Tin Coast Cycle Trail

Cycling trail

This out and back ‘blue’ graded cycle trail explores the Tin Coast, with plenty of opportunities to jump off and get a closer look at the industrial mining heritage, wildlife and coastal views this area has to offer.

Map

Start:

Botallack Count House

1

Start at the National Trust's Botallack Count House, open 10am -4pm all year round. Here you can find information about the mining heritage of the area, refreshments and toilets. From the Count House turn left and follow the vehicular entrance track, keeping the sea on your right hand side.

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Built around 1861, the Count House is where the mine Captain would have lived and done business. The miners would collect their pay from here each month.

Botallack Count HousePete Savage

2

By the small shed on the right hand side, take the track to the right with stone Cornish hedges either side.

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Cornish hedges

Cornish hedges might be seen as walls to visitors to the area. They are typically stone-faced with earth packed on top and between the stones. From the earth, vegetation grows to varying vigor, depending on the conditions, and the stones are often host to a myriad of lichens.

3

Pit Stop. Hop off the bike to take a closer look at the buildings, remnants of the Tin Coast's mining industry. When you return to your bike, continue along the main track.

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Heritage mining site

This is a World Heritage Site, internationally recognised for it's importance as a historical site, telling the story of our mining past. Please help us to conserve this special place by keeping bicycles to the main track as described by this trail.

BotallackNational Trust / Alice Barker

4

Take the hairpin turnoff to the right.

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Kenidjack Valley

As you take the hairpin to the right, the Kenidjack Arsenic Works lie in the valley below you on your left hand side. Now a peaceful spot for a walk to the stony beach looking across to Cape Cornwall, this would have been an important industrial area buzzing with people rather than wildlife.

5

At the end of the track, take a moment to relax and enjoy the views across to Cape Cornwall.
Turn around, back to the hairpin and turn left, back the way you came.

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Cape Cornwall

The National Trust car park, toilet facilities and local refreshments van make Cape Cornwall a popular stop off point for hopefuls wanting to spot choughs and seals. The Heinz Monument is the Cape Cornwall Mine chimney, which was kept as a navigational marker for those at sea, after the mine closed.
Note: from the hairpin, the track that carries straight on continues for another 0.7 miles before reaching the main B3306 road. This road takes you: Turning right, up a steep hill with blind bends to St Just
Turning left, back to Botallack.
Across the junction and left fork onto No Go By Hill, a quieter road back to Botallack, or right fork onto New Road and then onto the A3071.

Cape Cornwall National Trust / Alice Barker

6

Pit stop. You've returned to Botallack Count House, how about enjoying a cup of tea?
To carry on with the next part of the trail, leave the Count House and turn right. Follow the main track, keeping the sea on your left hand side.

Botallack's Tin Mining heritageNational Trust / Alice Barker

7

Pit stop. Where the coast path forks off to the left, you can hop off the bike to follow the coast path and enjoy views over The Crowns engine houses. When you return to your bike, continue straight ahead on the main track, the byway

BotallackNational Trust Images / David Noton

8

Pit stop. Hop off the bike and have a look at the circular stone constructions surrounding the old mine shafts. Return to your bike and continue along the main byway.

Mine shafts on the Tin CoastNational Trust/Alice Barker

9

Continue on the byway, ignoring the turnoffs.

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Chimneys

The chimneys looming ahead are iconic of the mining industry. The chimneys removed fumes from the many engines that were needed to move the ore from the mines, ventilate the mines, remove the ever threatening water from the mines, and to help move the miners in and out of the tunnels. Chimneys were also needed for the process of burning the ore to remove arsenic.

Looking towards LevantNational Trust / Alice Barker

10

Pit stop. Arrive at Levant Mine.
Leave your bike next to the visitor reception building and take the tour with Levant’s expert guides. Admission prices apply.

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Levant Miners

The mining tunnels reached a mile out under the Atlantic, giving the miners a long commute to work having already walked from the villages where they lived. When Levant mine closed in 1930, many miners went abroad to continue their trade, taking popular Cornish sports like Rugby Union with them to New Zealand, Australia and South Africa

11

Return to Botallack Count House by the same route.
We hope you've enjoyed your ride along this World Heritage Site. If you would like to know more about supporting the charitable work of the National Trust, through volunteering, donating or becoming a member, please do get in touch or visit our website www.nationaltrust.org.uk

You made it

Terrain

This trail is rated as ‘blue /moderate’ and is suitable for cyclists with basic off-road cycling skills. Most of the route is flat but is over rough, rocky terrain and is suitable for basic mountain bikes and not road bikes. As this is a Cornish Mining World Heritage site, please do keep bikes on the main trail.

Tin Coast Cycle Trail

How to get here

Take the B3306 from St Ives or St Just to Botallack, take either turn into the village and where the two roads meet, take the track out to the coast. Parking available in the area just beyond the ruins near the Count House. There is a bike stand outside the Count House.

By foot

Botallack is on the south west coast path

By bus

All year round the St Just to Penzance number 10a. In the summer the Penzance to Land's End number 300. Alight in Botallack village by the Queens Arms and from the bus stop head north through the village to the road junction, then follow the track past Botallack Manor to the Count House